Mail-box support.



W. M. HOAG MAIL BOX SUPPORT.

APPLICATIONJEILED Aum, 19m.

1,299,343 Patented Apr. 1,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- W. M. HOAG.

MAIL BOX SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED Aus.2-. ma.

Patented Apr. 1,1919. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 @TS ATENT FFTQE,

WILLIS M. HOAG, O1 KIRWIN, KANSAS.

MAIL-BOX SUPPORT.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filed August 2, 1918. Serial No. 248,010.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIS M. How, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kirwin, in the county of Phillips and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Box Supports, of

which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to mail box supports and more particularly to supports for rural delivery boxes.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a mail box support or crane constructed with a view to accommodating itself to and withstanding the conditions to which devices are ordinarily subjected by wind, weather, and loose live stock.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a two-part swinging element designed more especially, though not necessarily, for use in a mail box support or crane,

one of the parts of the said swinging element being capable of vertical movement on the other part so that the first named part will give and move upwardly should an animal rub against it, and thereby avoid any injury to the swinging element or other part of the crane.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrative of my novel support or crane,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking toward the post,

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section taken in the plane indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrative of the manner in which the horizontal member of the swinging element is adapted to swing vertically on the other element thereof,

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the manner in which the bracket plate or attachment to the box is held against turning on the horizontal member of the swinging element.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

Among other elements my novel support or crane comprises a swinging element.

This swinging element is made up of an up right member 1, of circular form in cross section, having a horizontal arm 2 at its upper end, and a horizontal member 3, of inverted U-shape in cross section normally superimposed on and supported by the arm 2. The inner portion of the member 3 straddles the arm 2 and is connected thereto by a horizontal transverse pintle 1. It will also be noticed here that the inner end of the top of the member 3 is removed, as indicated by 5 so as'to afford to the member 3 a limited vertical movement on the arm 2. This will be appreciated as an important advantage when it is stated that the mail box 6 is arranged upon and connected to the member 3, and that because of the vertically swinging capacity of the said member 3 the member is adapted to give upwardly in the event of an animal rubbing against it so that such rubbing or contact will not be attended by injury to any part of the support.

As illustrated a plate 7 is superimposed upon and riveted at 8 to the member 3; the said plate 7 being arranged under and connected to the mail box 6 and having for its purpose to strongly connect the box to the member3. The plate 7 is provided with depressed lugs 9. These lugs 9 are disposed at opposite sides of the member 3 and are adapted by engaging said sides to prevent turning of the plate 7 and the box 6 on the member 3.

At the underside of the arm 2 of member 1 is a hanger 10 in which is carried an antifriction roller 11'.

At 12 is a post designed to be suitably fixed in the ground, and fastened to the post is a curvilinear track 13 having inclined planes 14 and a seat or depression 15 between the lower ends of the said planes. The roller 11 is superimposed and movable on the said trackl3 and into and out of the seat or depression 15, this arrangement being re sorted to in order to prevent too easy swinging of the box under the action of wind, while permitting of swinging movement of the box in the event of an animal or an object striking against it. When the box is moved as stated, the inclined planes of the track will manifestly cause the roller 11 to move toward and into the seat 15 and in that manner the box will gravitate or move of itself into its ori inal and normal position. The track 13 1s carried by a body or plate 16 and the said body or plate is employed in the connection of the track to the post 12.

Mounted on the body or plate 16 and disposed in two pairs below the track 13 are circumferentially grooved spools 17. These spools serve to receive between them the up right member 1, and consequently it will be manifest that the vertical movements of the said member 1 as well as the turning of the said member about its axis will be attended by little and practically no friction.

It will be gathered from the foregoing that my novel crane or support is simple and strong in construction and is therefore well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which mail box cranes, particularly those used in the country, are subjected; and it will also be gathered that the crane or sup port is compact and is not liable to wear outer become impaired after a short period of use.

While. particularly adapted for embodiment in a mail box crane or support I would have it understood that my invention contemplates certain features thereof in various applications to which the features referred tomay beput with advantage.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Pat-- ent is:

1. The combination of a support, a track carried by the support and having inclined planes and a depression between the lower ends of said planes, circumferentially grooved spools. mounted on the support and disposed below said track, and a swinging element comprising an upright portion of circular form in cross-section movable vertically and about its axis between the said spools and a horizontal portion reaching forwardly from the vertlcal portion and equipped with an anti-friction roller superimposed and movable on the track.

and movable on said tract and a supporting member, of inverted U-shape in cross-see tion, straddling and plvotally connected to the arm of the verically movable member and having; the inner portion of its top re moved whereby it is capable of limited vertical movement on said arm.

3. The combination of a post, a body fixed thereto and having a track including inclined planes and a depression between said planes, lower and upper paths of circun ferentially grooved rollers .iounted on the body and arranged below said track, a turning and; vertically movable member disposed between said spools and having an outwardly reaching arm at its upper end, a roller carried by said arm and disposed and movable on the track, a member pivoted to said arm and normallysupported in horizontal position thereby and having a limited vertical movement on the arm, and a box superimposed on and carried by the last named member.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WILLIS M. HOAG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents. each, by addressing; the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

